The New Stuff

Gay News Take-Over: This Week's Recap

Talk about a gay old time. It seems in the home stretch of January, gay news and events have been “penetrating” headlines everywhere. Let's take a quick look back and get the fabulous scoop on the current 411.

* Please Note: Stories will be covered in a top to bottom format rather than grouping together. It may be less fun, but tends to be more intimate that way. (think about it)

First up, we have “Fact of Life” actress and stand-up comedienne, Geri Jewell, announcing this week that she will be releasing a memoir entitled, “I'm Walking as Straight as I Can,” where she will detail her struggle with cerebral palsy and reveal being a lesbian. FOX reported that the book, which is expected to be on shelves April 1, will discuss how “Jewell, who played Geri Tyler from 1980-1984, was the first person with a disability to appear in a recurring role on prime-time television. [The book] touches on both her condition and her sexual orientation.”

Up second, President Obama gives the gay community nod with his pioneering decision to nominate the first openly gay lawyer to fill the judicial seat in Manhattan that had been held by U.S. District Judge Denny Chin before his elevation to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. If J. Paul Oetken – who currently is the senior vice president and associate general counsel for Cablevision – does in fact fill the seat, “he would become the first openly gay man to serve on the federal bench,” The New York Times reports.

And speaking of the Big “gay-friendly” Apple, a new poll shows that a record number of New Yorkers approve gay marriage rights in the state. “Fifty-six percent of Empire State voters favor same-sex nuptials, up from the previous best of 51% in 2009,” according to a survey conducted by Quinnipiac University. The NY Daily News covered the poll results and discussed them with Empire State Pride Agenda boss Ross Levi who hailed the results, saying, “it's time loving same-sex couples in New York can finally protect each other and their children just like any other family."

Once again from political side of things, The Washington Post confirmed that the Pentagon Leaders are expected to unveil a new plan providing “military services about three months to train their forces on the new law allowing gays to serve openly,” according to officials. This plan is coming in to action just days after Obama's State of the Union address to the nation where he promised change and an end to the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy as of 2011.

On a lighter note, Lady Gaga got in on the gay action this week by releasing the full lyrics of her new song, "Born This Way," to her Twitter followers. The song that she “has had in her head for over a year,” speaks to “equality and love” for the gay community. Her little monsters responded positively to the star's request to spread the word by making “#bornthiswaylyrics” the number one trending topic on Twitter worldwide in mere moments! Gaga released the full lyrics here: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/8e8bt7

And lastly – for this galaxy at least – “Star Wars” producer, Brannon Braga, said in a AfterElton.com panel discussion that not ever having an openly gay character in any of the movies or 726 television episodes was, “a shame for a lot of us.” Now I need to make an observation here. Before we regret “Star Wars” not exploring the gay frontier, we mustn't disregard, the one-piece suits, swords that looked like glow sticks, and space ship designs redolent of a phallic symbols that continually explored uncharted black holes. Not to mention our favorite Asian sensation, George Takei, who played Sulu, and famously came out in 2005 and then married his partner in 2008. So when it comes to “Star Wars,” I feel they went “deep.”